Effect of Interleukin-27 Genetic Variants on Atrial Fibrillation Susceptibility

Abstract

AIM: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. No data are available on the association between the polymorphisms of interleukin-27 (IL-27) and AF in the Chinese Han population. This study was performed to determine if polymorphisms within the IL-27 gene are involved in the AF susceptibility. METHODS: Two hundred seventy AF patients and 303 healthy individuals were examined for two IL-27 gene polymorphisms (rs153109 and rs17855750) by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology. RESULTS: An association between the IL-27 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs153109 and AF was found in Chinese Han population. The G allele and GG genotype of rs153109 were associated with increased AF risk (odds ratio [OR]: 1.35, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.06-1.71, p = 0.02 and OR: 1.66, 95% CI = 1.03-2.65, p = 0.03 in the recessive genetic model, respectively). The significance of the association between the GG genotype and AF risk did not survive a Bonferroni's correction. Similarly, no significant differences in the allele and genotype frequencies of the rs17855750 SNP was observed between the AF patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that the IL-27 genetic polymorphisms may be associated with susceptibility of AF in Chinese Han population.